My husband and I joined my son and his family for a Memorial Day weekend in Palm Island, Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico. Whenever I am surrounded by nature, I feel like I am closer to God. Roaring waves, vast sky, and glorious sunsets remind me of God’s power, beauty, and presence. In Isaiah 66:1 God says, “”Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.”  I spent four days on God’s footstool.

Whether you are walking along a sandy seashore, hiking through a thick forest, or simply relaxing in the backyard, being present in God’s creation provides many teachable God moments for little ones. Children love everything in nature, from the sun that brightens the sky to the tiny ants that crawl on the sidewalk. They love the sound of birds singing and tree-toads humming. They enjoy the texture of sea shells and sticks and stones. As they touch and see and hear the things around them, we can tell them that God is the one who made it all.

I taught my granddaughter, Jackie, a little song that we sing as a duet. I sing the question and she sings the answer:

Me: “Who made the sky?”
Jackie: “God did, God did.”
Me: “Who made the sky?”
Together: “God made the sky.”

We sing several verses, each time using a different word (e.g. Who made the sun, moon, stars, birds, trees, ants, etc). And we always end with her favorite verse: “Who made Jackie?”

Since Jackie’s twin brothers are early risers, one morning we dressed them in their Sunday best and went down to the quiet beach. With most of the islanders still asleep, we followed the boys with a camera as they walked through the sand. And being the proud grandma that I am, I just had to share a few pictures!

Here’s to making the most of teachable God moments and following little boys on the beach.

Crystal